Foot duster



Patented Oct. 11, 1949 FOOT DUSTER Max H. Swerdlow, Columbus, and Jack H. Saidel, Dayton, Ohio Application March 10, 194s, serial No. 13,965

Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for treating feet and more particularly to an apparatus for powdering the feet.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for powdering feet wherein the powdering mechanism is actuated by movement of the foot, the movement of the foot causing the toes to spread so as to better facilitate the application of powder between the toes.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device for powdering feet that is easily constructed, efficient, dependable and that adapts itself for both private and public use, in that the powder is applied to the foot without waste and without blowing powder into the room.

Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for powdering feet wherein the foot is inserted upon a treadle-like structure mounted within a housing in such a manner that the housing tends to confine the application of the powder to the foot without waste.

Other objects and'advantages reside in the con-v struction of parts, the combination thereof and the mode of operation, as will become more apparent from the following description.

In the drawings,

Figure l. is a side elevational View of a foot treating device.

Figure 2 is a top plan View showing a portion in section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of the treadle portion, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, cross sectionall view',V

taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character l0' indicates the main' housing that is provided with an open endv located between the overturned edges l2 of the sides, the overturned edge I4 of the top and the folded portion IG at the end. This housing may be made from sheet metal. The sides, the top and thel bottom, together with the ends, may be formed from a stamping properly secured together at the' joints. Near the folded portion I6 forming one end of the casi-ng or housing Ill is located atransverse angle bar i8, having one flange 20 secured to the' base of the casi-ng.

The powdering mechanism is mounted within` the casing and includes a treadle member 30, having downwardly directed' flanges 32 along the sides thereof and terminating in. one end with a downwardly directed flange vportion 34 loosely positioned between the angle bar i8 and the folded portion i6. This downwardly directed ange portion cooperates with the folded portion I6 and the angle bar I8 to form a pivotal joint or hinge. The treadle member 30 is provided with an aperture 36 which provides a finger-grip opening for lifting the treadle member and parts associated therewith out 'of the casing. The forward end of the treadle member is provided with an upwardly directed flange 40. This upwardly directed iiange provides an abutment or a limit for the inward movement of the foot, as clearly shown in dotted lines in Figure l. Substantially under the ball of the foot is an annular opening in the treadle member 30 bounded by a downwardly directed and outwardly ared ange 42.

Resilient means 44, simulating a cup-like'member, provided with a marginal bead 46, is tightly stretched over the flange 42 and functions as a container or compartment forthe powder used in treating the foot. This resilient means functions as a resilient support or yieldable means for holding the treadle member 3l! in the inclined position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The opening bounded by the ange 42 is provided with an apertured cover or lid 5l) provided with a plurality of vents 52. The lid is secured in position along one side by a; tongue or clip *54, projecting through a `'slot in the treadle memberl 30, so as to have a portion 56 underlying the treadle member se. The opposite side of the lid 5u is held in position by a screw '60.

From the foregoing it may readily be seen that the treadle member 30 and the parts associated therewith are loosely mounted within the casing and are normally found in the position shown in dotted linespin Figure 1. l

The powder is placed in the cup-like member 44. Then the. lid 50 is` closed. It can readily be seen' that'by placing the foot to be treated upon the treadle member, as shown by dottedl lines in Figure l, it is merely necessary to press downwardly by the foot on the treadle member 30 to compress-or collapse the cup-like member 44 into the dot-dash line positiony shown in Figure l. As this cup-like member 44y collapses, the Volume in the, cup-likemember is decreasedpresulting in air being blown out through they vents 52 to blow the powder around the toes of. the foot. By pumping Athe treadle member it is an easy matter to powder the foot, especially ther portions of the foot in the vicinity of the toes. Furthermore, when pressing downwardly upon the treadle member, there is a tendency for the toes tospreadk or to be manipulated,I thereby permitting powder to be blown or applied between the toes.

In refilling the cup-like member 44 or in changing the powder therein, the treadle member may be lifted out of the casing so that the cup-like member may be easily handled. After the cup has been relled and the lid put in position, the treadle member may be easily replaced in the casing.

Instead of utilizing the hinge shown, any other hinge arrangement may be used. Also, instead of using the particular shape of cup shown, any suit-y able shape may be used. For example, the cup may extend rearwardly, so as to apply powder to a greater area of the foot. Furthermore, instead of showing a casing and a treadle made from sheet metal, the parts may be made from plastic moulding material or any other suitable material.

Although the preferred embodiment of the device has been described, it will be understood that within the purview of this invention various changes may be made in the form, details, proportion and arrangement of parts, the combination thereof and mode of operation, which generally stated consist in a device capable of carry-` ing out the objects set forth, as disclosed and dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A device for treating feet with powder including the combination of a casing provided with an opening into which the foot to be treated may be inserted, a treadle member mounted in spaced relation from the bottom of the casing having one end pivotally attached to the casing, a plurality of vents in the treadle member and a resilient cup-like member i'ixedly attached to the treadle member underneath the vents, said cuplike member providing a compartment for powder so that as the treadle member is actuated by the foot to be treated, the powder is blown outwardly through the vents so as to powder the foot, said cup-like member being constructed to raise the treadle member upon the treadle member being released.

2. A device for treating feet with powder including the combination of a casing provided with an opening into which the foot to be treated may be inserted, a treadle member mounted in spaced relation from the bottom of the casing and having one end pivotally atta-ched to the casing, said treadle member having a plurality of Vents underlying the forepart of the foot inserted into the opening in the casing, and resilient means attached to the under side of the treadle member and positioned between the treadle member and the base of the casing, said resilient means being provided with a collapsible wall forming a cavity for holding the powder to be applied to the foot, said powder being blown through the vents so as to vpowder the `foot upon the treadle member when the treadle member is actuated towards the bottom of the casing, said resilient means being constructed to restore the treadle member to the original position upon the release of pressure thereon.

3. A device for treating feet with powder including the combination of a casing provided with an opening into which the foot to be treated may be inserted, a treadle member mounted in spaced relation from the bottom of the casing having one end pivotally attached to the casing, said treadle member having an opening provided with `a downwardly and outwardly flaring flange bounding the opening, a collapsible resilient member attached to the downwardly directed ange, said collapsible member providing a compartment for foot powder, a cap member provided with a plurality of vents overlying the opening in the treadle member, the powder being blown through the vents so as to powder the foot used in actuating the treadle member towards the bottom of the casing to `collapse the resilient member, said resilient member being constructed to restore the treadle member to the original position whenever the pressure thereon is removed.

4. A device lfor treating feet including a casing, an opening in one end and a portion of the top of the casing into which the .foot may be projected, a bracket extending parallel to the open end in close proximity thereto, a treadle member located in spaced relation from the bottom of the casing, said treadle member terminating in a downwardly projecting flange positioned between the bracket and the end of the casing so as to provide pivotal connection between the treadle member and the casing, a collapsible cup-like member providing a powder compartment for holding the powder to be used in treating the feet, said cup-like member providing a resilient support for they treadlle member, means for attaching the cup-lil e member to the under side of the treadle member, said treadle member having a plurality of vents overlying the powder compartment of the cuplike member so that when the treadle member is actuated by the foot to -be treated the powder compartment is collapsed so as to blow powder through the vents thereby to powder the foot actuating the treadle member.

5. Adevice for treating feet including a casing, an opening in one end and a portion of the top of the casing into which the foot may be projected,4

a bracket extending parallel to the open end in close proximity thereto, a treadle member located in spaced relation from the bottom of the casing, said treadle member. terminating in a downwardly projecting llange positioned between the bracket and the end of the casing so as to provide pivotal connection for pivotally connecting the treadle member and the casing, a collapsible cup-like member providing a powder compartment for holding the powder to be used in treating the feet, said `cup-like member providing a resilient support for the treadle member, means for attaching the cup-like member to the under side of the treadle member, said treadle member having an opening through ywhich the powder compartment may be filled with powder, and a lid provided with a plurality of vents overr said opening in the treadle member so that when the treadle member is actuated by a foot the cup-like member is compressed to thereby blow the powder into the casing above vthe treadle member so as to powder the foot actuating the treadle member.

MAX H. SWERDLOW. JACK H. SAIDEL.

REFERENCES CliTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent: 

